Skip the Back-Breaking Work
Laying Turf With a Hawkesbury Team That Grows It Too
Most people underestimate the work involved. Old grass has to come up, the soil needs levelling, underlay has to be barrowed in and spread, and then every roll, weighing roughly 15 to 20 kg per square metre, must be carried and placed with tight joins. It’s easy to lose a whole weekend and still end up with an uneven lawn.
Our crews do it all for you. Because we grow the turf ourselves, laying day is planned around the harvest, so the rolls go down fresh. We finish by watering the new lawn in and leaving you with clear instructions for the weeks ahead.
In short: Arrow Turf is a family-owned turf farm whose experienced crews handle laying turf for homes and businesses across Greater Sydney. Cost depends on lawn area, how much old lawn removal and levelling is needed, underlay, variety and access. Turf is cut fresh for your job and usually ready within a day or two.
Our Turf Varieties
Choose the Turf We'll Lay for You
With its finer and thinner stems and stolons and amazingly soft feel underfoot yet exceptional tolerance to wear and tear, this proudly Australian-bred turf is perfect for all types of lawns and landscapes.
With its luxuriously soft feel and vibrant beauty yet super low maintenance requirements, this buffalo grass works best for homes with families, children, and pets who want to play and relax on the lawn all year round.
With its hard-wearing and easy-to-care-for medium texture yet still soft enough for sitting, Kikuyu is perfect for schools, parks, playing fields, and running oval surrounds. This grass variety will also work for yards.
With its thick mat and fine blade yet soft feel underfoot, this couch grass is used in Australia and the world’s top sports stadiums and golf courses. This grass variety can also be used for residential and commercial lawns and landscapes.
With its soft feel and fine texture, this darker green, premium couch grass is perfect for golf and bowling greens as well as front and backyards. This grass variety is also great for commercial landscapes as well as sports fields.
Why Professional Laying Pays
Laying Turf Properly From the Ground Up
Homeowners, landlords and businesses often decide to lay turf themselves to save money, then discover how much of the result depends on what’s underneath. Uneven soil leaves bumps that get scalped by the mower, low spots collect water, and gaps between rolls dry out and die back. Fixing those problems later usually means lifting turf and starting again, so it pays to get the preparation and laying right the first time. Working with an experienced crew also takes the heavy lifting off your hands, which matters when every square metre weighs so much.
Our approach starts with a site inspection to check sun, shade, slope and drainage and recommend a variety. We then clear the old lawn and weeds, level the area, spread fresh underlay and lay turf from our farm with tight, staggered joints. Once the turf is down, we water it in thoroughly and talk you through aftercare for the coming weeks. To book or find out more, visit our turf installation service in Sydney.
Laying Job Inclusions
What Your Turf Laying Job Can Include
- Site inspection and advice: we check sun, shade, slope and drainage and recommend the right variety.
- Old lawn and weed removal: existing grass and weeds are cleared so your new turf starts clean.
- Levelling and soil preparation: we level the area and fix low spots so water drains away.
- Quality turf underlay: a fresh layer of underlay gives new roots drainage and nutrients.
- Expert laying: turf from our farm is laid with tight, staggered joints for a seamless finish.
- Watering in and aftercare: we water the new lawn in and leave you with clear care instructions.
Common Laying Mistakes
Uneven Ground, Gaps and Dry Edges in New Lawns
Plenty of DIY turf jobs struggle for the same few reasons, often only showing up weeks later. Professional laying avoids three of the most common.
Bumps and hollows under the turf. Turf follows the shape of the soil beneath it. Without careful levelling, high spots get scalped by the mower and hollows hold water, so we fix the base before a single roll goes down. Even small dips become obvious once the grass is mown.
Gaps between the rolls. Loose joins let edges dry out and shrink, leaving lines across the lawn. Laying in a staggered, brick-like pattern with tight joins helps the turf knit together evenly. Each piece is butted firmly against its neighbour.
Turf left waiting on the pallet. Rolled turf deteriorates the longer it sits. Because we grow and lay it, your turf is harvested to suit the laying day and goes straight onto prepared soil. Fresh turf roots far more readily than turf that has dried out.
Laying Turf Costs
How Much Does Laying Turf Cost?
The cost of laying turf depends on more than the turf itself. Your lawn’s area, the variety, how much old grass and weed removal is needed, levelling, underlay and access to the yard all affect the quote. A clear, open site usually costs less to prepare than a sloping, overgrown one.
| Price driver | How it affects your cost |
|---|---|
| Lawn area | Larger areas cost more overall but often less per square metre. |
| Turf variety | Kikuyu is the most budget-friendly; soft leaf buffalo and premium couch cost more per m². |
| Site preparation | Removing old lawn, levelling and adding turf underlay all affect the total. |
| Access and slope | Tight side access, steps or steep blocks can add time to the job. |
Tell us about your yard and the area you want turfed, and we’ll arrange a free, no-obligation laying quote.
Farm to Finished Lawn
Turf Grown at Cornwallis and Laid by Our Own Crews
The turf we lay is grown on our family farm at 104 Cornwallis Road, Cornwallis NSW 2756, on the Hawkesbury River. We have been growing turf there for more than 45 years, and we harvest to order, so the rolls our crews lay are cut specifically for your job. That direct link between farm and crew keeps every job fresh.
Our installation crews work on residential and commercial sites across Greater Sydney, from the Hills District and Western Sydney to the Northern Beaches, Sutherland Shire and Macarthur. We also cover the Blue Mountains, Wollongong and the Central Coast, so wherever you are, the turf comes direct from our paddocks.
How Our Team Approaches Laying Turf
A great lawn comes from doing each stage in the right order, with no shortcuts on preparation. Here’s how our crews take a job from bare yard to newly laid turf, step by step.
1. Free quote and site check: tell us about your project and we’ll assess the area, access and soil.
2. Preparation: we remove the old lawn, level the ground and spread turf underlay.
3. Laying: fresh turf is laid with tight, staggered joints and trimmed neatly to the edges.
4. Water in and aftercare: we water the lawn in and give you a simple care plan for the first weeks.
Slopes, Shade and Drainage on Laying Day
Every yard brings its own challenges, and these are the ones we plan for during the site inspection.
Sloping backyard blocks. Turf on a slope can shift before it roots, and water runs off rather than soaking in. Careful levelling where possible and firm laying help keep it in place. We’ll also advise on watering a slope so it soaks in evenly.
Shaded corners and side paths. Areas under trees or beside buildings need a variety that tolerates shade. We’ll recommend options such as Sir Walter for those parts of the yard. Sunny areas can then be laid with a variety that loves full sun.
Pooling water on new turf. Low spots that hold water drown new roots. We fix low areas during levelling so water drains away from the lawn. Good drainage also helps the lawn stay healthy long term.
Weeds coming back through. Leaving old runners and weeds in the soil invites them back. We clear existing grass and weeds so the new turf starts clean.
Frequently Asked Questions About Laying Turf
Is laying turf a job I should hire out?
Laying turf yourself is possible, but it’s heavy work and the result depends on careful preparation. Hiring our team means the old lawn is removed, the ground is levelled, underlay is spread and the turf is laid with tight, staggered joints, giving you a smoother lawn with far less effort.
How long does it take to lay a lawn?
Timing depends on the size of the area, the condition of the existing lawn, access and how much levelling is needed. A small, clear backyard is a much quicker job than an overgrown, sloping block. We’ll give you a realistic timeframe when we inspect your site.
What happens to my old lawn?
We remove the existing grass and weeds before laying, so the new turf isn’t competing with old runners. Clearing the area properly also lets us level the soil and spread fresh underlay, which gives your new lawn a clean start and helps it root evenly.
What is turf underlay and do I need it?
Turf underlay is a soil blend, typically an 80/20 mix, spread around 100 to 150 mm deep beneath new turf. It gives roots drainage and nutrients to grow into and is especially helpful over clay or compacted soil. It’s a standard part of proper preparation when laying turf.
Can you lay turf on a sloping yard?
Yes. Slopes need careful preparation so water soaks in rather than running off, and the turf must be laid firmly so it stays in place while roots establish. During the site inspection we’ll assess the slope and drainage and plan the best approach for your yard.
When can I walk on newly laid turf?
Keep foot traffic to a minimum for the first two to three weeks while the roots grow into the underlay. Walking on it only to water is fine. After the first mow, made on a high setting, you can gradually return the lawn to normal use.
Do you lay turf for commercial sites?
We do. Our experienced crews handle both residential and commercial turf laying, from home backyards to schools, business grounds and property developments. Read about our turf installation in Sydney or browse our turf varieties to choose a lawn.
How do I water turf after laying it?
Water the new lawn deeply straight after laying turf, then once or twice a day for roughly the first three weeks. The goal is to keep the soil beneath moist so roots can grow down. Reduce frequency gradually once the turf is firmly anchored and hard to lift at the edges.
